Abandon Ship!! Gruden Looking For A Job
SoFLPhillyFan
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Sunday's Tampa Tribune -
Gruden Sending Out Feelers
By IRA KAUFMAN The Tampa Tribune
Published: Nov 19, 2006
IRVING, Texas - Get used to this dateline, Buc fans.
It could be Jon Gruden's mailing address next season.
While it's unlikely the Glazers will dismiss Gruden this winter, there's a growing likelihood Tampa Bay's fifth-year coach will seek employment elsewhere.
The Tribune has learned Gruden already is sending out feelers regarding potential job opportunities for 2007. One major stumbling block is his contract status, with Gruden signed through the 2008 season.
Given the annual turnover rate among NFL coaches, several clubs will be looking for a new leader within the next two months and Gruden still generates star power.
The Cowboys, who take on the unbeaten Colts today at Texas Stadium, could make a play for Gruden's services if Bill Parcells retires, as expected.
Although Tennessee's Jeff Fisher has been linked to Dallas, Gruden may have more appeal for a savvy marketer like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Although his regular-season record with the Bucs would fall to 37-37 with a loss to the Redskins today, Gruden has proven he can turn a good club into a champion.
He also would provide the Cowboys with the kind of celebrity clout Jones craves as much as a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
If Jones calls the Glazers in an effort to pry Gruden out of his contract, they'd have to listen. Wouldn't you?
Jones and the Glazers already have a good relationship and the ensuing compensation issues wouldn't be insurmountable.
"That's not implausible," one NFL source said of the Gruden-to-Dallas scenario. "Ten years ago, it couldn't happen. Now, it's not a crazy idea."
Gruden could depart Tampa the same way he arrived - through the back door.
The Dallas job would be attractive to Gruden, who doesn't appear to be the type of coach to put down roots with one franchise for 15 years.
Tony Romo is a young quarterback who fits the Gruden prototype and the prospect of working with Terrell Owens undoubtedly would excite Chucky, even though Owens can be as disruptive as Keyshawn Johnson.
Gruden likes great players, and he never thought Keyshawn was great.
Faced with the prospect of several more losing seasons in Tampa, Gruden naturally is starting to feel antsy.
If he stays, Gruden could be on the verge of losing his job a year from now, with four losing seasons in a five-year span on his resume.
Bolting to Dallas could be a win-win situation all the way around. Jones gets his man, while the Glazers accelerate the rebuilding process with a slew of draft picks.
When Herm Edwards left the Jets in January with two years remaining on his contract, it cost the Chiefs only a fourth-round choice.
Gruden would command considerably more compensation.
But after years with the Glazers, would Gruden want to work with a hand's-on owner so involved in personnel decisions?
Gruden didn't finesse his way out of Oakland in 2002 because he couldn't stand Al Davis. He engineered a trade because Davis doesn't like to pay his coaches top dollar.
That isn't an issue for Jones, who may decide to take the easy way out and simply hire Fisher, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
But if Gruden's camp keeps making overtures, Jones will be tempted to call the Glazers and check out the price of juice these days.
Also profootballtalk.com -
GRUDEN LOOKING TO GET OUT OF TAMPA?
According to the Tampa Tribune, Bucs coach Jon Gruden is sending out feelers regarding potential job openings in 2007.
Gruden is signed through 2008, but recently there has been speculation from NFL insiders that Gruden could be in danger of being terminated, notwithstanding the Super Bowl trophy that the team won in his first season with the franchise.
So instead of firing Gruden and owing him the balance of his contract (less any money that he earns elsewhere as a coach), the Glazers might be in a position to hold up a potential suitor for a draft pick or two.
The problem, of course, is that Gruden's star has fallen a bit over the past few years. No longer regarded as a hot-blooded up-and-comer, Gruden is now merely a grumpy middle-aged man with a mouth like a sh-t-sprayed sewer.
Really, who would want him, especially if getting him carries with it an obligation to work out a deal with his current team? The Tribune identifies the Cowboys as a possibility, if Bill Parcells packs it in. But we can't see Gruden and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones coexisting. Other teams that might have vacancies after the season include, as we see it, the Ravens, Titans, Jaguars, Chargers, Falcons, Cardinals, and Seahawks.
The Cardinals would be an intriguing fit, given that rookie quarterback Matt Leinart is in desperate need of some quality NFL tutelage.
Gruden Sending Out Feelers
By IRA KAUFMAN The Tampa Tribune
Published: Nov 19, 2006
IRVING, Texas - Get used to this dateline, Buc fans.
It could be Jon Gruden's mailing address next season.
While it's unlikely the Glazers will dismiss Gruden this winter, there's a growing likelihood Tampa Bay's fifth-year coach will seek employment elsewhere.
The Tribune has learned Gruden already is sending out feelers regarding potential job opportunities for 2007. One major stumbling block is his contract status, with Gruden signed through the 2008 season.
Given the annual turnover rate among NFL coaches, several clubs will be looking for a new leader within the next two months and Gruden still generates star power.
The Cowboys, who take on the unbeaten Colts today at Texas Stadium, could make a play for Gruden's services if Bill Parcells retires, as expected.
Although Tennessee's Jeff Fisher has been linked to Dallas, Gruden may have more appeal for a savvy marketer like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Although his regular-season record with the Bucs would fall to 37-37 with a loss to the Redskins today, Gruden has proven he can turn a good club into a champion.
He also would provide the Cowboys with the kind of celebrity clout Jones craves as much as a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
If Jones calls the Glazers in an effort to pry Gruden out of his contract, they'd have to listen. Wouldn't you?
Jones and the Glazers already have a good relationship and the ensuing compensation issues wouldn't be insurmountable.
"That's not implausible," one NFL source said of the Gruden-to-Dallas scenario. "Ten years ago, it couldn't happen. Now, it's not a crazy idea."
Gruden could depart Tampa the same way he arrived - through the back door.
The Dallas job would be attractive to Gruden, who doesn't appear to be the type of coach to put down roots with one franchise for 15 years.
Tony Romo is a young quarterback who fits the Gruden prototype and the prospect of working with Terrell Owens undoubtedly would excite Chucky, even though Owens can be as disruptive as Keyshawn Johnson.
Gruden likes great players, and he never thought Keyshawn was great.
Faced with the prospect of several more losing seasons in Tampa, Gruden naturally is starting to feel antsy.
If he stays, Gruden could be on the verge of losing his job a year from now, with four losing seasons in a five-year span on his resume.
Bolting to Dallas could be a win-win situation all the way around. Jones gets his man, while the Glazers accelerate the rebuilding process with a slew of draft picks.
When Herm Edwards left the Jets in January with two years remaining on his contract, it cost the Chiefs only a fourth-round choice.
Gruden would command considerably more compensation.
But after years with the Glazers, would Gruden want to work with a hand's-on owner so involved in personnel decisions?
Gruden didn't finesse his way out of Oakland in 2002 because he couldn't stand Al Davis. He engineered a trade because Davis doesn't like to pay his coaches top dollar.
That isn't an issue for Jones, who may decide to take the easy way out and simply hire Fisher, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
But if Gruden's camp keeps making overtures, Jones will be tempted to call the Glazers and check out the price of juice these days.
Also profootballtalk.com -
GRUDEN LOOKING TO GET OUT OF TAMPA?
According to the Tampa Tribune, Bucs coach Jon Gruden is sending out feelers regarding potential job openings in 2007.
Gruden is signed through 2008, but recently there has been speculation from NFL insiders that Gruden could be in danger of being terminated, notwithstanding the Super Bowl trophy that the team won in his first season with the franchise.
So instead of firing Gruden and owing him the balance of his contract (less any money that he earns elsewhere as a coach), the Glazers might be in a position to hold up a potential suitor for a draft pick or two.
The problem, of course, is that Gruden's star has fallen a bit over the past few years. No longer regarded as a hot-blooded up-and-comer, Gruden is now merely a grumpy middle-aged man with a mouth like a sh-t-sprayed sewer.
Really, who would want him, especially if getting him carries with it an obligation to work out a deal with his current team? The Tribune identifies the Cowboys as a possibility, if Bill Parcells packs it in. But we can't see Gruden and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones coexisting. Other teams that might have vacancies after the season include, as we see it, the Ravens, Titans, Jaguars, Chargers, Falcons, Cardinals, and Seahawks.
The Cardinals would be an intriguing fit, given that rookie quarterback Matt Leinart is in desperate need of some quality NFL tutelage.
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Comments
help him that is for sure.
Gruden dealing with T.O. could be interesting.
The players are getting sick of his act, he's hard headed and has hurt the team. It's more about him now and his image. The 2002 season is long gone and his chances to repeat have been squandered. With this news he's most likely gone for sure.
The talk around Tampa is that he can't handle coaching and player personnel stuff at the same time.
I feel the same about Andy Reid. Most coaches need to just stick with their own staff and the game plan.
Pittsburgh would chew Gruden up and spit him out after two seasons.
"GRUDEN INTERESTED IN STEELERS GIG
In response to news that Bucs coach Jon Gruden is putting out feelers regarding potential job opportunities, a league source tells us that one of the teams in which Gruden is interested in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It's widely believed that current Steelers coach Bill Cowher will retire after the 2006 season. His wife has moved to a multi-million-dollar home in North Carolina, and Cowher has only one season remaining on his contract. During a trip to Steelers training camp in August, we discovered that there is a common and open belief among the local media that Cowher will retire if the Steelers don't win a second straight Super Bowl.
Obvious candidates to replace Cowher would be offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm. But with the offense struggling this season, it's possible that ownership will decide to make a dramatic change.
But is Gruden the answer? We don't think so.
He's not a Pittsburgh guy, and he has only one year on his resume that shows any connection to the Steel City. (Assistant coach at Pitt, 1991.) And with defense the key in Pittsburgh, continuity will be a strong suit for in-house candidates who come from the offensive side of the ball. Really, what's better for the Steelers -- elevating Grimm or Whisenhunt and keeping Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator, or hiring Gruden and potentially starting from scratch on the other side of the ball?
Another complication is that Gruden might want the same kind of personnel power that he currently wields in Tampa, and that Cowher currently exercises in the 'Burgh. But we've got a feeling that there are plenty of folks in the front office who are looking forward to the possibility or wresting back from the coaching staff some of the day-to-day decision-making as to the shaping of the roster.
Finally, don't forget about the Rooney Rule. There will be extra pressure on the Steelers to hire a non-white coach, given that the rule championing increased numbers of minority head coaches is named for the owner of the team. Arguably, the Steelers can justify not making a minority hire if they merely promote Whisenhunt or Grimm. If the Steelers go outside of the building, however, they might have to hire someone like, for example, Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera or Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin.
Bottom line -- Gruden might want Pittsburgh, but we can't see Pittsburgh wanting him."
"Jon Gruden’s Buccaneers lead the NFL with 60 punts and are on pace to break the franchise record of 102 set in 1978. The Bucs are allowing 340 yards per game, the most since 1995, the year before Tony Dungy arrived in Tampa. Finally, one year after winning the NFC South with an 11-5 mark and a 5-1 division record, the Bucs are 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the division."